House sales have picked up slightly from their record lows, but the national median sales price has stuck at the same level for the past three months.

Rate reductions in recent days have added to a series of falls over the past month for both fixed and floating rate mortgages.

Are revolving credit facilities a blessing or a bugbear?

Daffodils are springing up all over and so are the special mortgage offers, as lenders try to generate some new season fever.

E-Loan New Zealand has added WAP access to its Internet home loan service along with the ability to text-chat live with consultants while online.

National company REAL, launched eight weeks ago, says it's ceased to be a joke to the real estate industry.

ANZ and WestpacTrust's moves to trim floating rates today are just the latest in a flurry of mortgage rate cuts since the OCR review a fortnight ago.

Home buying confidence may be subdued, but it's still hanging in there above most other measures of general business and consumer confidence.

One of New Zealand's largest insurance companies, HIH Casualty & General Insurance (NZ) Ltd, has resigned from the Insurance Council of New Zealand.

Online mortgage broker E-Loan New Zealand is set to add more lenders to the 18 already hooked in to its web-site, providing further choice for borrowers shopping for a loan.

The Minister of Consumer Affairs says a number of banking consumers are concerned about what they see as excessive fees and charges as well as the lack of helpful information, and they also feel unfairly penalised by banks.

The Reserve Bank has declined to change the Official Cash Rate, a key influence on floating and short-term fixed mortgage rates, at this morning's review.

Looking at overall house price trends only gives you part of the picture, as recent research makes plain.

Groan. It's definitely official: the estimated net worth of New Zealand households has fallen $2.8 billion (1.3 per cent) over the June quarter.

The Official Cash Rate, a key influence on floating and short-term fixed mortgage rates, is up for review again next week with the arguments tending in favour of no increase.

There are at least eight reasons why the housing market will be "challenged" over the coming year.